LIRS President Linda Hartke discusses the need for alternatives to detention.

Detention of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and other persons of concern continues to affect thousands of men, women and children detained in conditions often falling below international standards. International human rights laws require that immigration detention should be used only as a last resort, in exceptional cases and after all other options have been shown to be inadequate in the individual case. There are alternatives. Watch, read, listen or submit your own questions and learn more.

Talk with expert, Leslie Vélez

Leslie E. Vélez, Esq. was Director for Access to Justice from January 2007 through May 2012. Access to Justice is LIRS's unit that promotes access to the justice system, immigration benefits and legal protection to immigrants and refugees. Below, Leslie responds to the following commonly asked questions concerning detention: